SimpliSafe is a home security company offering home monitoring systems to protect against burglary, intruders, natural disasters, and other dangerous events. When setting up a home security system, many families prefer that all members have access to the system for total peace of mind. So, why can’t you create additional SimpliSafe accounts?
You can’t create a new SimpliSafe account to access a current one. Only one login is allowed per account; you can’t link them or add family members. To enable family access, you must log in with the primary account credentials on each family member’s device and complete an authentication process.
This article examines common problems associated with setting up a new SimpliSafe account, including linking accounts, logging in across devices, and viewing Base Stations from different accounts. Additionally, it’ll cover whether you can have more than one SimpliSafe system and, if so, how to toggle between two systems on one account. Read on to learn more.
Problems Setting Up a SimpliSafe Account
Setting up a SimpliSafe account is a straightforward process involving signup, registering the device, selecting a service plan, and accessing home security information via an app.
However, some customers want to give account access to family members (or, in the case of business monitoring, to store managers or other employees). Unfortunately, they run into problems when trying to perform the following tasks using SimpliSafe:
- Setting up multiple accounts to link to a single account
- Logging in across devices
- Viewing a Base Station on another account
Let’s examine some of these problems and their potential solutions.
How to Set Up and Link Multiple SimpliSafe Accounts
After registering a home security device to a SimpliSafe account, the Base Station is assigned to that email address only.
Therefore, if you’re attempting to create a new SimpliSafe account with the intention of connecting it to a current Base Station, it won’t work; you’ll receive an error message when entering the serial number because the Base Station is already linked to an account.
Additionally, as of October 2022, you cannot link accounts in SimpliSafe. There is only one email allowed per account. This is a major inconvenience for families who want to provide all family members access to the account or business owners who want high-level employees to have access to the business’s security system.
Fortunately, SimpliSafe may roll out an upgrade. In April 2022, a SimpliSafe team member stated in a support thread that the engineering team was developing a multi-user feature for the platform. So, SimpliSafe customers may have access to multiple logins on one account in the future.
How to Log in to SimpliSafe Across Devices
Until SimpliSafe rolls out the multi-user feature, multiple users can log in to a single account across various devices. Though it’s not the most convenient option, it’s currently the only way for more than one user to access SimpliSafe’s home security features in the app.
Another drawback to this is that SimpliSafe’s sign-in process requires Multi-Factor Authentication via text message. Fortunately, you can make this process easier by adding the desired members’ phone numbers to the account. That way, they can receive these verification codes directly to their devices (SimpliSafe allows users to add multiple numbers for MFA verification).
From the primacy device used to access the SimpliSafe service:
- Launch the SimpliSafe app.
- Log in if you’re not automatically signed in.
- Select Menu.
- Tap Manage Account.
- Click on Multi-Factor Authentication.
- Add the phone numbers of those you’re giving access to the MFA.
On the devices of those you wish to allow access:
- Download and launch the SimpliSafe app.
- Log in to the app using the main account credentials.
- Wait for the MFA verification code.
- Enter the code to finish signing in.
Upon sign-in, all logged-in members can access information across the app on their devices.
Note: Only share account credentials with trusted family members. If you ever feel that your account has been compromised, change your password and contact support.
How to View Another Base Station (on a Different Account)
Base Stations are associated with a single account; you can’t add an additional account with a separate login to a Base Station.
For example, if you want to monitor your home’s security system and your grandmother’s security system to ensure her safety, you’d have to log out of your account and log into your grandmother’s account to view her cameras and notifications. You cannot toggle back and forth between two different SimpliSafe accounts.
You can only toggle between two different locations if they are on the same account. We’ll discuss this further in the next section.
Can You Have Two SimpliSafe Systems?
You can have two SimpliSafe systems; however, you must have separate subscription-based monitoring services for each Base Station. Additional Base Stations may be linked to separate addresses and used on one account.
For example, if you want a SimpliSafe system set up at your home residence and your business all on one account, you can do this. After setting up your residential system, you can add a new system under the same email address. Here’s how:
- Launch the SimpliSafe app or log in to the SimpliSafe website.
- Select Activate New Service.
- Tap Add or Upgrade Monitoring.
- Enter the serial number on the Base Station or scan the QR code.
- Follow the prompts and enter all required information.
- Choose and pay for the monitoring plan.
After registering the device and setting up the monitoring plan on a single account, you can access both locations via the app using these instructions:
- Launch the SimpliSafe app.
- Click the house icon in the upper right corner.
- Select the location you wish to view.
From there, you can arm or disarm a location and toggle back and forth between these locations within the app.
Conclusion
SimpliSafe’s home security system gives users peace of mind whether they’re away from home or sleeping soundly inside. Though there are a few drawbacks to the service regarding multiple users, the company listens to its customers and consistently works to roll out updates to improve the user experience. Until they roll out a multi-user feature, there are a few workarounds to provide access to multiple users.
